Durability and Life Prediction of Adhesive Bonds in Severe Environments

Abstract

Abstract 1. Life Prediction methods may be used to characterize the durability of adhesive bonds of elastomers to rigid substrates. The primary rate determining mechanism of bond failure is considered to be electrochemical in nature, and its rate may be characterized on an Arrhenius basis. 2. Assumption of a single mechanism (and single activation energy) cannot be made across a wide temperature range. Two different regimes were discovered within the temperature range 20 to 90°C for both sea water and oil environments. 3. Durable bonds between elastomers and structural polymer/composites can be formed using normal rubber technology for rubber/metal bonding. In the case of bond durability in iso-octane/toluene at 90°C bonds of HNBR to E-glass composite surpassed those of HNBR to stainless steel. 4. These methods provide a scientific basis for quantitative determination of the life of engineering components in service. Further research is required at present for each new application, but wider use of these techniques in the future is anticipated, especially for critical applications where component replacement is costly or hazardous. This knowledge can provide confidence for engineers to make more extensive use of those adhesive systems in more demanding applications.